Anthony and Angelina Forte celebrate 50th wedding anniversary

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Even though Angelina Forte and Anthony Forte were both born in Castelpetroso, Italy, share the same last name and their parents were acquaintances, they didn’t meet until 1959. After both had relocated to the United States, a chance meeting in Newark, N.J., brought them together. They married the following year.

Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Forte of Sunnyside recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a party in the Staaten, West Brighton, hosted by their children. The happy occasion brought together many of the original members of the bridal party, and guests from Montreal, Florida, Virginia, Pennsylvania and upstate New York.

At the party, the couple renewed their marriage vows, officiated by the Rev. Louis Jerome of Sacred Heart R.C. Church, West Brighton, and the Rev. John O’Hara of St. Teresa’s R.C. Church, Castleton Corners.

Mrs. Forte, who was born 69 years ago, went to school in Italy. She relocated to Newark with her family when she was 14 years old and attended classes to learn English. Before marrying, Mrs. Forte worked in a sewing company located in Newark.

Family PhotoMr. and Mrs. Anthony Forte

A dedicated homemaker, Mrs. Forte served as a secretary for 20 years in the family-owned business, Anthony Forte Contracting Corp., a home-based company.

When the children were younger, Mrs. Forte volunteered at St. Teresa’s School and Moore Catholic High School, Graniteville.

Mrs. Forte is an excellent cookie baker. She sews and attended ceramic classes.

Mr. and Mrs. Forte enjoy tending to their tomato garden, which helped to produce 454 quarts of tomato sauce last year. They belong to the Arrochar Friendship Club, where they are members of the bowling team, and Mr. Forte plays bocci ball.

The couple are world travelers and have visited cities in Europe, Mexico, South America and Canada.

Mr. Forte, 71, arrived in Manhattan with his family at the age of 10. He graduated from Haaren High School and studied engineering at City College of New York, both in Manhattan.

After moving to Staten Island, Mr. Forte worked as a salesman and fence installer with Laidlaw Iron Works in West Brighton. He then began Anthony Forte Contracting Corp., a masonry business. In 2000, Mr. Forte retired.

Mr. Forte keeps busy working around the house and has been an avid hunter for the past 30 years.

Mr. and Mrs. Forte were married on May 7, 1960 in St. Antoninus R.C. Church in Newark.

They are the parents of Frank of Englishtown, N.J.; Thomas of Sunnyside; Anthony Jr. of Morganville, N.J.; and John of Freehold, N.J. They have eight grandchildren.